New Delhi: In the midst of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, cricket has become a casualty, with bilateral tours between the two nations grinding to a halt. The last time India and Pakistan engaged in a bilateral series was in 2012-13, when Pakistan visited India for a series of white-ball matches. Since then, the teams have only faced each other in international tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy, where they recently clashed in a Group A match in Dubai. India’s dominance over Pakistan continued with a six-wicket win, while Pakistan’s struggles persisted, failing to secure a single victory in the tournament.
Sunil Gavaskar, a cricket legend, recently addressed the question of when bilateral cricket might resume between the two nations. Speaking on a Pakistani cricket show, Gavaskar emphasized that peace at the borders is essential for any talks about reviving bilateral cricket ties. “By frankly having peace at the borders. It’s very simple. If there’s peace at the borders, then I think both governments will certainly say, ‘Look, okay, we’ve had no incidents, nothing at all. So let’s at least start with talking,'” he explained.
Gavaskar also acknowledged that back-channel communications might be ongoing but noted that the Indian government remains cautious due to reported incursions. “I’m pretty certain there will be some back-channel connections going on. But you want to see what’s happening both on the ground and off the ground because of the fact that there are incursions we hear about. That’s the reason why the Indian government is saying, ‘Look, maybe until all that stops, we should not even look at having or talking about anything,'” he added.
India’s recent performance in the Champions Trophy has been strong, qualifying for the semifinals, while Pakistan’s campaign ended without a win. The absence of bilateral cricket between these two cricketing powerhouses has been felt, with many calling for a resumption of ties.
